Very confused......

[Sara.Riddle]

Hello,
My husband and I are looking for a new tow vehicle for our 2009 Keystone Laredo 291 TG. We currently are looking at a 2007 Dodge 1500 Quad Cab SLT 5.7 Hemi, 3.92 axle ratio.....can you please give any advice on this or direct me to someone that may be able to help better. This is kind of an urgent request and I was hoping a fellow RVer could help because I am sure you know how the sales people are.....they never seem to be able to be very helpful when it comes to towing questions.
I have read A LOT of stuff about all of this and still can't seem to figure it out....why to this all have to be so confusing?
Thanks a lot,

[RVRon]

Sara,
A Dodge Ram 1500 is light duty chassis (rated to carry 1/2 ton or 1000 lbs) and the folks I've known that try to pull a good-sized travel trailer have felt that they should at least have a 2500 series truck (3/4 ton or 1500 lbs capacity). The issue is not so much the capacity to carry weight, but rather the stiffness of the suspension and actual weight of the truck itself.
The power and the final drive ratio (3.92) of the 1500 will be plenty of power to haul the trailer, but I would see you in a heavier chassis if you can find one you like.

[JayGee]

This should help. 2003 RAM Pickup Payload and Towing Charts

I agree with RVRON. The 1500 would probably do it, but the 2500 would be more secure doing it if you are going to be on the road a lot.

[TXiceman]

With the Hemi towing, you will come to love service stations...Fuel economy is not the greatest.

Ken

[Ray,IN]

My best advice is to follow the instructions for using this Travel Trailer weight calculator, which was created by Ken Lenger.

[Grodyman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVRon Sara, A Dodge Ram 1500 is light duty chassis (rated to carry 1/2 ton or 1000 lbs) and the folks I've known that try to pull a good-sized travel trailer have felt that they should at least have a 2500 series truck (3/4 ton or 1500 lbs capacity). The issue is not so much the capacity to carry weight, but rather the stiffness of the suspension and actual weight of the truck itself. The power and the final drive ratio (3.92) of the 1500 will be plenty of power to haul the trailer, but I would see you in a heavier chassis if you can find one you like.

Not really. That's like saying a one ton is rated to carry 2000lbs of payload, my F350 SRW was rated over 4000lbs, one ton duallies 5-6K lbs. Just look at the ratings of the 1500 and stay comfortably under them you will be happy. If you max out, you may wish for more truck.

Gman

[jimcumminsw]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sara.Riddle Hello, My husband and I are looking for a new tow vehicle for our 2009 Keystone Laredo 291 TG. We currently are looking at a 2007 Dodge 1500 Quad Cab SLT 5.7 Hemi, 3.92 axle ratio.....can you please give any advice on this or direct me to someone that may be able to help better. This is kind of an urgent request and I was hoping a fellow RVer could help because I am sure you know how the sales people are.....they never seem to be able to be very helpful when it comes to towing questions. I have read A LOT of stuff about all of this and still can't seem to figure it out....why to this all have to be so confusing? Thanks a lot,

Hi, I use this site to answer most of Dodge towing questions. http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2007/intro.pdf
In this site they list what each model of truck is rated to tow and what the axle weights should be.
I would also look on the truck's door B-pillar on the drives side door for the weight placard. This will provide maximum GVW and axle weights that this truck can handle. Each model of truck depending on cab and features will have a different weight rating.
Like this page will show you. http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2007/docs/dr/mlup.pdf

There are a couple of items missing from your request. Is the truck a manual shift or automatic? Is the truck a 4X4 or 2WD? Does the truck have 17"tires or 20" tires? These items also effect payload and towing.
Use the above PDF file to find this information that you need.
You will also need to loaded GVW of your trailer to answer these questions too.
Jim W.

[Z714X4]

Sara,

The saying goes 'you can never have too much truck'.
Now I didn't look at the weights of your trailer or the tow capacity of the truck, I can only tell you that I bought a 1/2 ton towable trailer, two months later didn't like how slow it was going up hills and ended up trading in my 1/2 ton for a 3/4 ton. Then, two years with the larger truck, having more power and capacity, I wanted a fifth wheel only to find the fifth wheels I really wanted would require a 1 ton truck. After about 4 years of looking the wife smacked me and we got a motor home instead.

While the 1/2 ton would do it, I didn't like it and was not comfortable using it. I was worried about the tranny, the temps, the car tires... etc.
3/4 ton was fantastic and made me want more RV. At least I didn't worry about every little thing with the larger truck.

Good luck with your decision.

[mhs4771]

Here's my take on this. Per the specs that trailer (dry weight) and cargo is approx 7200 lbs, since the specs are generally on the lite side would put you some where between 7500 and 8500 read for camping. And in general quad cabs have less capacity than standard. So the old rules apply, you may be able to get it moving, but will you be able to stop it! I agree you would be much better off with a 3/4 ton, which would also give you the option of a Diesel if you were travel enough to warrant the additional cost. Just my nickel's worth.

[hurly23]

Imo I would get a 3/4 ton (2500) ram diesel 4x4 long bed quad cab. I was in a similar scenario a couple months back where I bought a tt that was 7k lbs and used a 1/2 ton suv to tow it. The trailer was pulling the yukon all over the road even with weight transfer equip and sway bar. and the 5.3 was barely powerful enough to get over big hills. I went out and bought a ram 2500 diesel qc lb 4x4 and it has more than enough power. Drove 1500 miles with no sway bar (did have weight transfer bars) and ddnt even feel the trailer behind me. It was around 8k lbs loaded. What a huge difference! And I got 4 mpg better. The long bed makes a huge difference. I will see the trailer swaying a bit. But don't feel a thing @ the wheel. Basically the dog is wagging the tail now. Hope that helps a bit as well as most the other posts here. Its always nice to hear frm first hand experience

[JIMNLIN]

Don't feel bad about numbers confusion. As you see evey one has a different opinion especially when someone mentions a 1500 truck. Some folks are still stuck in the '90/early'00 era with low power engines. However all 1500 trucks have tow ratings. your 1500 Dodge/Hemi quad cab is a stout hauler for its package.

Lets look at you '09 291 TG. According to the '09 spec sheet for your trailer it shows a shipping weight of 6711 lbs. Once loaded it may weight in the 7500-7800 range.

The '07 Dodge Hemi 3.92 is high hp smallblock and is a strong puller so pulling the trailer down the road/mountains will be no problem. The biggest issue is payload capacity which generally runs 1400 -1700 lbs depending on the trucks configuration and how much stuff you add to the truck. IMO its gonna' be close to a max load on the trucks rear axle/tires but there isn't anything wrong or unsafe about carrying max loads.
I wouldn't have a issue with that particular truck pulling your trailer. Others have different opinions.

[Arch Hoagland]

Don't buy a 1/2 ton. Buy the biggest you can afford. The bigger the truck the better it is in emergency maneuvers, and believe me, there will come a time when you have to make a panic stop or quick lane change, etc.

[Francesca]

Hi, Sara

Is this truck purchase strictly for towing the trailer, or will it be used as a daily driver a lot of the time?
Also, do you camp/travel in hilly country or is it mostly flatland?
And how much do you expect to use it to tow, and for what kind of distances?

Francesca

[K-Star]

never, ever use the dry weight ratings of a trailer. that weight is only good until you get it home. once you put so much as silverware in the drawer, that weight is out the window. ALWAY use the GVWR of the trailer. Then you know you will be safe, assuming you don't overload the trailer.